With campaigns hotting up ahead of the general election slated for next month, helicopter and private jet operators are seeing increased patronage from politicians.

BusinessDay gathered that more politicians are already booking charter jets to fly them from one destination to another to carry out their campaigns.

Private jet and helicopter companies are seeing an increase in flight operations and some have leased jets to help them meet increasing demands.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has since received requests for Air Operating Certificates (AOCs) from intending helicopter and private jet companies.

The NCAA recently granted 7Star Airlines Limited, a Nigeria-based helicopter and jet charter company, an AOC to commence flight operations, thereby boosting the number of private jets and helicopters in the country.

“No doubt, this is a peak period for us. The business is doing well. There is an increase in helicopter and private jet operations. People fly all the time but understandably, it has increased because of the elections,” a private jet operator told BusinessDay on condition of anonymity.

“Every single private jet in the country belongs to someone – that person has contacts in government and contacts of politicians.”

According to him, the private jet business is doing well this period, and flights have increased, which could be a function of the owners of these private jets flying more.

“Some people brought in jets and…